This is the third of a four-part series by Beyond Plastic Bermuda in support of its Take Back the Tap campaign

Since we first launched our Take Back the Tap campaign, Beyond Plastic Bermuda has received positive feedback from residents eager to use their own tank water more and spend less money on bottled water. This is excellent news for their health, their wealth and the environment.

But what do they do when they are out and about or travelling? What happens when their tanks are low? Can they trust the quality of water supplied by the water trucks or Bermuda Waterworks?

The answer to the last question is yes — as long as you have a well-maintained tank and, where necessary, an adequate filtration system. Water supplied by Bermuda Waterworks, also known as Watlington Water, is a blended product made at its two reverse osmosis plants in Devonshire. The North Shore plant desalinates seawater and the Parsons Lane plant desalinates brackish water from the underground lens.

When Beyond Plastic Bermuda asked Bermuda Waterworks chief operations officer Karlene Kelly if its water was safe to drink, she replied: “Our utility water is safe to drink. However, our water does contain chlorine which is used as a mandatory disinfecting agent.”

Chlorine, however, can be easily removed from drinking water by using a simple carbon filter. She also added that its water is tested daily, as well as weekly by an approved local laboratory, and annually by a US-based laboratory.

Bermuda’s water trucks get their water from a variety of public and private water sources, which includes rainwater as well as water that has been filtered using reverse osmosis. Trucked water is also chlorinated.

Another drinking water option that is more cost-effective than buying single-use plastic water bottles daily is PureWater. Also produced by Bermuda Waterworks, this water has been processed by reverse osmosis at its North Shore plant and chlorinated before being fed into the Devonshire plant, where it is dechlorinated, softened and distilled. This distilled water is then used to fill up three or five-gallon reusable bottles, which can be attached to a water cooler. While these are plastic, unfortunately, they are not single-use plastic and are therefore less costly — both financially and environmentally.

Once you are happy with your home water source, we recommend investing in a reusable water bottle to transport it. These are available to buy throughout Bermuda and come in a variety of sizes and colours. They can also last for years. Bottles made from stainless steel are ideal for summer, as they can keep your water cold all day.

If you enjoy your water carbonated, try a soda stream. Over time, you will find this is a fraction of the cost of regularly buying bottled fizzy water.

Should you run out of water while out and about, there are lots of places where you can refill them. There are water refill stations in the airport and around the City of Hamilton, as well as at most major events. Failing that, it has become normal to ask cafés or restaurants if they will fill up your water bottles for you. These authors have never been turned down by anyone when asking for a refill.

If you find you need to buy a bottle of water, try to buy one in a bottle or container made from glass, tin or aluminium. This is because they are not only better choices for your health, but also for the environment as they can be recycled. Try to avoid cardboard boxed water, however, as that is lined with plastic.

Why is it so important that we avoid single-use plastic water bottles?

First, it is a huge and unnecessary expense. In the past five years, Bermuda has imported more than $7 million of drinking water. Surely that money can be better spent elsewhere or saved for a more worthy purpose?

Second, single-use plastic bottled water is harmful to our health. The micro and nanoplastics found in bottled water, along with the chemicals contained in the plastic bottles themselves, have been linked to a variety of worrying health issues including diabetes, obesity, infertility and cancer.

Third, they are harmful to our environment. Not only do discarded single-use plastic bottles litter our island and ocean, but 99 per cent of plastic is made from chemicals sourced from fossil fuels. When these are burnt in our incinerator, the pollutants are released into the atmosphere.

Bermuda, for the sake of your finances, your health and our environment, please invest in clean tanks, clean roofs, water filters and reusable water bottles instead of single-use plastic water bottles. We know that changing habits is not always easy, but we are here to help. For advice about eliminating single-use plastic, or for more information about our Take Back the Tap campaign and water research, visit beyondplastic.bm or call 799-5142.

• Erich Hetzel is a local environmentalist and member of Bermuda Environmental Sustainability Taskforce. Katie Berry is a local environmentalist and a Beyond Plastic champion

Part 1

Part 2